322 HIV/Aids positive cases in Bannu

The statistics released by the Provincial Aids Control Program reveal that more than 1880 cases of HIV/Aids have been reported in 23 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2017 . The provincial capital has witnessed the highest number of cases with 432 followed by Bannu district with 322 positive cases. Dir district has recorded 216, Swabi 123, Charsadda 120, Kohat 107, Lakki Marwat 100, Hangu 92, Mansehra 79 and others.

Meanwhile, to date, more than 500 cases of HIV/Aids have been reported from FATA. Of these, 33 cases were reported in Bajaur Agency, 87 from Khyber Agency, 98 from Kurram Agency, 218 cases from Frontier Region (FR) Bannu, 34 Mohmand Agency, 28 from Orakzai Agency, 72 from South Waziristan and 133 from North Waziristan.

According to an official working for the Provincial Aids Control Program, “A large number of affected patients do not approach government centers after being diagnosed and seek private treatment while many conceal the disease owing to social taboos and stigma.”

Pakistani columnist Farman Nawaz, who previously ran an Urdu Weekly Jirga Bannu, is the editor of The Bannu Times. Nawaz also runs an online newspaper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa News and KAS Research Journal. Nawaz has written English articles for Global Times China , Daily Outlook Afghanistan and several leading English newspapers of Pakistan. He had also worked as a blogger for Express News TV Network website.